Toy vehicle



March 1o, 1925- Y 1,528,954

C. P. SHAW TOY VEHICLE Filed Aug. 21, 1920 llozunl vPatented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

n Application ille'd August 21, 1920. Serial No. 405,082.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Toy Vehicles;and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which forma part of this specification.

This invention relates to toyvellicles and the object of the invention is to provide a toy vehicle which is adapted to be driven by a coiled spring. A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which a coiled spring is secured therewithin at the forward end of the toy and a cord is attached to the spring extending around the rear axle of the toy vehicle and through the rear end thereof by means of which a tension may be placed on the coiled spring, which tension when released will cause rotation of the axle by the spring and drive the toy. Another object of the invention is to provide a to vehicle operated by a cord in which the cor clutches the shaft only when tension is applied to the spring, the cord being released from the shaft when the spring is returned to its normal position. One of the novel features of the invention resides in the operation of the device whereby only a short pull on the cord is necessary to propel the device many times its own length. These objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of 'construction by which these objects are attained is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fi 1 is a side elevation of the toy showing t e spring in dotted lines in the extended position, prior to driving the vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a section through the device showing the position of the spring after propelling the vehicle.

Fig. 3 1s a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The device consists of a body 1 which may be made of sheet metal, liber or other material but is preferably 'made from a single sheet of cardboard folded to form the desired shape, which in this case is an imitation of a sedan body which is open at 2,

-as shownin Fin'. 2, the doors and windows I bein printed on the cardboard. In the forwar end of this cardboard body and in each opposite side thereof is a metal eyelet 3, similar to a shoe eyelet, which may be easily secured in a cardboard or .liber body and which provide bearings for the forward axle 4 of the-vehicle which extends therethrough. This axle`4 is provided with a pair of wheels 5 made of fiber, metal or other suitable material. At the rear end of the vehicle and in each opposite side thereof is a metal eyelet 6 which form bearings for the drive shaft 7 which is preferably square in cross sect-ion as shown. On the shaft 7 is secured a pair of drive wheels 8 formed of suitable material and also on the shaft 7 is a fly Vwheel or cylindrical weight 9 to continue the rotation of the drive Wheels after the tension on the spring has been released. As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, a coiled spring 10 is secured to a member 11 in the forward end of the vehicle and to the opposite end-of the coiled spring 10 is secured a stron cord 12. I f desired a rub ber band or ot er suitable elastic member may be substituted: for the coiled spring.

The cord 12 extends to the rear axle and 1s wound thereabout several times the cord extendin from the shaft 7 and outward throng an eyelet 13 in the rear end of the vehicle. The spring and cord before operation are in the position shown in Fig. 2, and the outer end 14 of the cord extends through the rear of the body and is operated vby hand to drive the vehicle. When the cord end 14 is pulled backward the tension placed on the cord causes the cordto ti htly bind about the square axle 7 and as Y e cord is pulled out the spring is extended to the dotted position shown in Fig. 1. It will be seen that while the cord is pulled backward the wheels 8 are rotated in a rearward direction and if placed on a flat surface will cause the device t'o move backward. Therefore it is necessary to raise the rear wheels from the floor when the cord is pulled in a rearward direction. When the spring has been extended to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the rear wheels may be positioned on a flat surface and as the spring returns to the position shown in Fig. 2, the axle 7 is swiftly rotated .by the cord 12 thereby driving the toy along the floor..

When the'spring has returned to the posicord 12 is released the windings of the cord will lie loosely about the shaft 7 and allow the shaft to continue to rotate by momentum the cord may be replaced'should it become worn and unfit for use.

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that the devlce is very simple and efficient in operation, of light and cheap construction and of low manufacturing cost and provides a. toy vehicle which accomplis-hes the objects desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim 'and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a toy vehicle, a body provided with forward wheels, a rear axle rotatably mounted in the body and provided wit-l1 a pair of driving wheels, a cord Wound about the said rear axle, an elastic member secured to the forward end of the body to which one end of the cord is secured, the opposite end of the cord extending outwardly through the rear end of the vehicle, the relationship being such that upon outward movement of the cord the wheels are rotated in a rearward direction and upon release of the cord to action by the spring the wheels are ro# tated in a forward direction.

2. In a toy vehicle, a body madeof cardboard, a pair of eyelets in the opposite sides of the body at the forward end, an axle rotatably mounted in the said eyelets, a pair of wheels secured to the said axle, a pair of eyelets in the opposite sides of the body at the rear end, an axle substantially square in cross section rotatably mounted in the said eyelets, a fly wheel secured to the said axle, a pair of driving wheels secured to the axle atthe opposite ends, a spring secured to the forward end of the vehicle, a cord extending from the said spring about the rear axle and outwardly through an aperture provided therefor in the rear end of the body. v

3. In a toy vehicle, a body provided' with forward wheels, a rear axle rotatably mounted in the rear end of the said body, a pair of wheels secured to the axle, an elastic member secured to the body at the forward end and adapted to be longitudinally elongated, the end of the elastic member normally being spaced from the rear axle, and a cord extending from the elastic member around the rear axle and rearwardly therefrom.

4. In a toy vehicle, a suitable body provided with forward wheels, an axle substantially square in cross section rotatably.

mounted in the rear end of the body, a pair of wheels secured to the said axle, a fly wheel secured to the axle. within th(l body. a coiled spring secured to the forward end of the vehicle,`and acord extending from the coiled spring about the rear axle and outwardly through an aperture provided therefor in the rear end of the said body.

5. In a toy vehicle, a body formed of cardboard, a forward axle mounted in the forward end of the said body, ay rear axle rotatably mounted in the rear end of the said body, a pair of wheels secured to each axle, a coiled spring secured in the body at the forward end, a cord extending from the spring wound yaround the rear axle and extending outwardly through an aperture provided in the rearend of the said body.

6. In a toy vehicle, a body provided with forward wheels, a rear axle rotatably 1nounted in the body and provided with a pair of driving wheels, a cord wound about the said rear axle, an elastic member secured to the forward end of the body to which one end of the cord is secured, the opposite end of the cord extending rearwardly from the axle.

7. In a toy vehicle, a pairof driving wheels, an axle therefor, a stationarily positioned elastic member, and an operating cord extending from the elastic member, thence about the rear axle and rearwardly therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

CHARLES P. SHAW. 

